A Masterclass in Colour – Allison Hood Wins Best Use of Colour at Bloom 2025
At Bloom 2025, colour wasn't just seen—it was felt. And nowhere was that more true than in the exquisite wearable floristry piece created by Allison Hood of the Allison Hood Flower School, which earned her the title of Best Use of Colour in the IOF’s Wearable Floristry Competition.
Selected by colour psychologist and expert Adele Roche, Allison’s design was a vibrant, joyful celebration of nature’s palette. It spoke volumes without needing to shout—blending warmth, coolness, energy and softness into a perfectly balanced composition.
“This piece celebrates the full spectrum of colour—from rich, fiery oranges to calming purples—all grounded with vibrant greens,” Adele shared. “It was vibrant, energising and playful, yet also delicate and elegant—something very few designers manage to achieve. Every colour had purpose and harmony.”
🌿 Allison’s Floral Palette
Allison’s piece was a living, breathing ode to seasonality and the Irish landscape, combining fresh-from-the-garden materials with wild, textural finds. Her materials included:
Garden classics: Garden Roses ‘Claire Austin’, Ranunculus, Philadelphus (Mock Orange), Lavender
Native touches: Buttercups, Honeysuckle, Welsh Poppies, Meadow Grasses, Nepeta, Sanguisorba, Strawberries
Unusual gems: Chive flowers, Oxalis, Physocarpus, Grapevine tendrils, Heuchera, Verbena bonariensis
Foliage & support: Lemon Verbena, Salad Burnet, Shining Cranesbill
The resulting effect? A wild-yet-refined wearable design that felt grounded in nature but elevated by design.
🛠 Behind the Mechanics
The piece was built on a twine-covered hairband base, to which Allison added a multi-sectioned aluminium wire frame, also wrapped in twine for a natural finish. Smaller decorative elements—what Allison calls her “twiddly bits”—were crafted from fine 22-gauge wire wrapped in thinner twine, adding detail and texture.
To keep her softer materials fresh, she incorporated small plastic vials hidden within the design, and used a combination of bind wire and glue to attach her blooms with care and control.
The overall silhouette was wearable, whimsical, and bursting with colour theory mastery.
💬 A Floral Statement in Full Bloom
Allison’s work stood out for its restraint and exuberance in equal measure. Her understanding of floral form and colour psychology created something more than just wearable—it became emotionally resonant.
At the IOF, we were proud to see a florist lead with confidence, rooted in education, nature, and intentionality.
Congratulations to Allison Hood for her richly deserved win. Your work lit up Bloom with joy and beauty.
🙏 With Thanks
As always, thank you to our wonderful sponsors whose generous support helped make this competition so impactful:
Each prize helps our florists reinvest in their creativity and business growth.
